Daily Reading – April 3, 2020

“Who is this Jesus?” In spite of all that Jesus has said and done, it appears the disciples still don’t understand. He casts out an evil spirit after the disciples could not — and all were astonished at the majesty of God at work in Jesus. While they were all marveling at everything He was doing, it is clear the disciples, impressed by the miracles and wonders in their midst, do not yet grasp what Jesus is really all about. He says, “Let these words sink into your ears”…I am not here to impress you with healings and exorcisms. “The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.” But they didn’t understand this saying and it was concealed from them, so that they might not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask Him what He meant by this saying.

Luke explains that the truth about Jesus must have been concealed from the disciples, because they continued to lack understanding. Jesus has spoken plainly about His approaching arrest, suffering and death, yet they did not understand, and they were afraid to ask. How could the disciples be so dull and unwitting? How could they fail to understand who Jesus is and why He came? Could the same be said of us, Jesus’ disciples and followers today?

While the daily reading guide wasn’t prepared to follow the liturgical year, it is helpful that these passages come as we are just steps away from Jerusalem, Palm Sunday and Holy Week. They challenge us to ask, who is this Jesus, and what does His death and resurrection mean for me?

2 Chron. 20:1–23

20:1 Later the Moabites and Ammonites, along with some of the Meunites, attacked Jehoshaphat. 2Messengers arrived and reported to Jehoshaphat, “A huge army is attacking you from the other side of the Dead Sea, from the direction of Edom. Look, they are in Hazezon Tamar (that is, En Gedi).” 3Jehoshaphat was afraid, so he decided to seek the Lord’s advice. He decreed that all Judah should observe a fast. 4The people of Judah assembled to ask for the Lord’s help; they came from all the cities of Judah to ask for the Lord’s help.

5Jehoshaphat stood before the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the Lord’s temple, in front of the new courtyard. 6He prayed: “O Lord God of our ancestors, you are the God who lives in heaven and rules over all the kingdoms of the nations. You possess strength and power; no one can stand against you. 7Our God, you drove out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and gave it as a permanent possession to the descendants of your friend Abraham. 8They settled down in it and built in it a temple to honor you, saying, 9‘If disaster comes on us in the form of military attack, judgment, plague, or famine, we will stand in front of this temple before you, for you are present in this temple. We will cry out to you for help in our distress, so that you will hear and deliver us.’ 10Now the Ammonites, Moabites, and men from Mount Seir are coming! When Israel came from the land of Egypt, you did not allow them to invade these lands. They bypassed them and did not destroy them. 11Look how they are repaying us! They come to drive us out of our allotted land which you assigned to us! 12Our God, will you not judge them? For we are powerless against this huge army that attacks us! We don’t know what we should do; we look to you for help.”

13All the men of Judah were standing before the Lord, along with their infants, wives, and children. 14Then in the midst of the assembly, the Lord’s Spirit came upon Jachaziel son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph. 15He said: “Pay attention, all you people of Judah, residents of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Don’t be afraid and don’t panic because of this huge army! For the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16Tomorrow march down against them as they come up the Ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the ravine in front of the wilderness of Jeruel. 17You will not fight in this battle. Take your positions, stand, and watch the Lord deliver you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Don’t be afraid and don’t panic! Tomorrow march out toward them; the Lord is with you!’”

18Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face toward the ground, and all the people of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord and worshiped him. 19Then some Levites, from the Kohathites and Korahites, got up and loudly praised the Lord God of Israel.

20Early the next morning they marched out to the wilderness of Tekoa. When they were ready to march, Jehoshaphat stood up and said: “Listen to me, you people of Judah and residents of Jerusalem! Trust in the Lord your God and you will be safe! Trust in the message of his prophets and you will win.” 21He met with the people and appointed musicians to play before the Lord and praise his majestic splendor. As they marched ahead of the warriors they said: “Give thanks to the Lord, for his loyal love endures.”

22When they began to shout and praise, the Lord suddenly attacked the Ammonites, Moabites, and men from Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. 23The Ammonites and Moabites attacked the men from Mount Seir and annihilated them. When they had finished off the men of Seir, they attacked and destroyed one another. (NET Bible)

Ps. 88

88:1 A song, a psalm written by the Korahites; for the music director; according to the machalath-leannoth style; a well-written song by Heman the Ezrachite.

Luke 9:37–50

9:37 Now on the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a large crowd met him. 38Then a man from the crowd cried out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son – he is my only child! 39A spirit seizes him, and he suddenly screams; it throws him into convulsions and causes him to foam at the mouth. It hardly ever leaves him alone, torturing him severely. 40I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not do so.” 41Jesus answered, “You unbelieving and perverse generation! How much longer must I be with you and endure you? Bring your son here.” 42As the boy was approaching, the demon threw him to the ground and shook him with convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. 43Then they were all astonished at the mighty power of God.

But while the entire crowd was amazed at everything Jesus was doing, he said to his disciples, 44“Take these words to heart, for the Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men.” 45But they did not understand this statement; its meaning had been concealed from them, so that they could not grasp it. Yet they were afraid to ask him about this statement.

46Now an argument started among the disciples as to which of them might be the greatest. 47But when Jesus discerned their innermost thoughts, he took a child, had him stand by his side, 48and said to them, “Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me, for the one who is least among you all is the one who is great.”

49John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he is not a disciple along with us.” 50But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him, for whoever is not against you is for you.”

Scripture is the primum principium; it is [Luther writes] “in itself the most certain, the most accessible, the most readily understandable (book) which interprets itself and approves, judges, and illumines all (words) of all.” It must “reign as queen.” (18)

This daily Bible reading guide, Reading the Word of God, was conceived and prepared as a result of the ongoing discussions between representatives of three church bodies: Lutheran Church—Canada (LCC), The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) and the North American Lutheran Church (NALC). The following individuals have represented their church bodies and approved this introduction and the reading guide: LCC: President Robert Bugbee; NALC: Bishop John Bradosky, Revs. Mark Chavez, James Nestingen, and David Wendel; LCMS: Revs. Albert Collver, Joel Lehenbauer, John Pless, and Larry Vogel.

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